Method of producing $g(b)-carotene by means of mixed culture fermentation using (+) and (—) strains of blakeslea trispora

ABSTRACT

Method of production of β-carotene by fermentation in mixed culture using (+) and (−) strains of  Blakeslea trispora    
     The invention consists of fermenting selected strains of Blakeslea trispora in conditions such that β-carotene is produced in the form of stabilized preparations with residual contents of other carotenoids (γ-carotene and β-zeacarotene). The fermentation conditions chosen include the programmed addition of oxygen and/or β-ionone during fermentation, and control of the age of the vegetative growth phases of the strains employed. The β-carotene obtained can be used in the pharmaceutical and food sectors.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention describes methods of selecting (+) and (−) strains of Blakeslea trispora that are overproducers of β-carotene and a new method of fermentation of the said strains that makes it possible to obtain stabilized preparations of β-carotene for direct application in the foodstuffs and pharmaceuticals fields.

START OF THE ART

[0002] The carotenoids are pigments of isoprenoid nature that are synthesized by certain bacteria, fungi and photosynthetic organisms. They can be divided into two types: (i) pure hydrocarbons called carotenes, including compounds such as β-carotene, α-carotene, γ-carotene or lycopene and (ii) molecules called xanthophylls, which contain oxygen in various forms (hydroxyl groups, epoxy groups, etc.), including astaxanthin, zeaxanthin, capsanthin, cantaxanthin, lutein, etc. All these compounds play an important role in the human diet, as antioxidants (prevention of cancer and other diseases) and as precursors of vitamin A. Owing to their beneficial effects on health and their attractive colors, the carotenoids are of considerable commercial importance as colorants and food additives [Ninet L. and Renaut J. (1979) In: Peppler H J., Perlman D. (eds). Microbial Technology, 2^(nd) Edition, Vol. 1, Academic Press, NY, pp. 529-544].

[0003] β-Carotene is a carotenoid whose chemical synthesis has been known since 1956. It has a molecular weight of 536.9 and a molecule (C₄₀H₅₆) with eleven conjugated double bonds. Its color is reddish violet in the crystalline state, yellowish orange in oily solution and orange in aqueous dispersion. Synthetic β-carotene has the all-trans isomeric configuration, whereas β-carotene from various natural sources has a variety of forms: all-trans, mono-cis, di-cis and poly-cis.

[0004] The production of carotenoids by microbial biosynthesis is a classic example of competition between chemical and biological processes. Advantages of the biotechnological processes include, among others, the possibility of obtaining, in a simple way, the carotenoids of more complex structure, as well as the conformational isomers that only occur naturally. The industrial biotechnological processes for production of β-carotene, competing with chemical synthesis, are based on the use of the alga Dunaliella salina and the fungus B. trispora. The production process with B. trispora involves carrying out a mixed fermentation of the (+) and (−) strains to achieve a maximum yield of β-carotene. The increase in yield of carotenoids in mixed cultures is related to the production of a family of acid compounds called factor β or trisporic acids [WO 00/77234, Caglioti L. et al. (1966) Tetrahedron Supplement 7: 175-187]. β-Carotene is produced by both the (+) strain and the (−) strain, being metabolized by both to retinal and subsequently to 4-dihydrotrisporol. The (+) strain utilizes the 4-dihydrotrisporol as substrate for forming dihydro-trisporic acid and its methyl ester (methyl-4-dihydro-trisporate). For its part, the (−) strain metabolizes the 4-dihydrotrisporol to trisporol. Finally, the methyl-4-dihydrotrisporate is converted to trisporic acid by the (−) strain and the trisporol is converted to trisporic acid by the (+) strain. This description of the biosynthesis of the trisporic acids is a simplification, since during the process many co-metabolites are generated, some of which are common to both strains (+) and (−), but others are specific to one of them. The relative quantities of these co-metabolites vary depending on the strains.

[0005] The biosynthetic pathway of β-carotene (Scheme 1) has been described in fungi that are related phylogenetically to B. trispora such as Phycomyces blakesleeanus and Mucor circinelloides [Arrach N. et al. (2001) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 98: 1687-1692; Velayos A. et al. (2000) European Journal of Biochemistry 267: 5509-5519]. At least three enzymes are necessary for the said biosynthesis: (i) phytoene synthase, which joins together two molecules of geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate to form phytoene, (ii) phytoene dehydrogenase, which introduces four double bonds into the phytoene molecule to synthesize lycopene, and (iii) lycopene cyclase, which, using lycopene as substrate, forms the rings located at the two ends of the β-carotene molecule. It was concluded on the basis of analysis of mutants of B. trispora that the biosynthetic pathway of β-carotene in this fungus is similar to that described for P. blakesleeanus [Metha B. J. and Cerdá-Olmedo E. (1995) Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 42: 836-838]. In the case of P. blakesleeanus, the yellow color of its mycelium can be altered by mutation, giving rise to strains with mycelium colored red, white or various shades of yellow. The red mutants accumulate lycopene, whereas the white ones lack production of carotenoids or accumulate phytoene.

[0006] One of the systems used in industrial microbiology for selecting strains is based on flow cytometry. With this technique it is possible to select subpopulations of mutants from a heterogeneous population. To achieve this, non-destructive methods are used, such as measurement of fluorescence and of the scattering of light. Isolation of the mutants is effected by means of an accessory connected to the cytometer (“Sort”) that permits cell sorting and separation. Selection of subpopulations is based on measurement of particular parameters that are related directly or indirectly to the yield. Flow cytometry is particularly useful for biological samples whose product of interest is autofluorescent. Although β-carotene is not actually a fluorescent molecule, when it is excited with an argon laser at a wavelength of 488 nm, as it returns from the excited state to its base state the energy loss gives rise to a process of radiation transfer which is detected at a wavelength above 600 nm. This property permits the direct selection of the mutants of interest.

[0007] The production of β-carotene by fermentation of B. trispora is described in patents U.S. Pat. No. 3,522,146, SU 1592327, RU 2053301 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,422,247. U.S. Pat. No. 5,422,247 claims the production of 3.5 to 7 g/l of β-carotene using selected strains of B. trispora in specific fermentation conditions. The present patent describes new methods of selection of strains and improved conditions of fermentation that make it possible to produce 9 g/l of β-carotene.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention describes a series of methods for obtaining high yields of β-carotene with the fungus B. trispora. The invention consists of (i) the design of methods for the production and selection of mutants of B. trispora that are overproducers of β-carotene and (ii) the development of improved conditions of fermentation. B. trispora is a fungus that is of considerable industrial importance for the biotechnological production of β-carotene. In fact, this process proves to be competitive with the synthetic method used industrially at present.

[0009] With the aim of obtaining strains that are overproducers of β-carotene, in the first place a mutagenic method was developed for the (+) and (−) strains of B. trispora with the mutagenic agents ethylmethane sulphonate (EMS) and N-methyl-N″-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (NTG). The suspensions of spores for mutation were obtained from slants with YpSs medium. The spores were resuspended by adding 10 ml of a solution of Triton X-100 at 0.1% to each slant. The mycelium residues were removed by filtration through a nylon filter with a pore size of 20 μm. The concentration of spores in the suspension was about 10⁶ spores/ml. The method of mutation with EMS consisted of incubating 10⁶ spores/ml in a 3% EMS solution in 0.1 M sodium phosphate buffer pH 7.0 at room temperature for 60 minutes, achieving mortality rates of around 99%. The mutated spores were washed three times with 0.1% Triton X-100 and centrifuged at 3000 rpm at 15° C. for 2 minutes. The method of mutation with NTG consisted of incubating 10⁶ spores/ml in a solution that contained 250 μg/ml of NTG and 0.1 M sodium citrate buffer pH 5.0 at room temperature for 30 minutes, achieving mortality rates of around 95%. The mutated spores were washed three times with 0.1% Triton X-100 and centrifuged at 3000 rpm at 15° C. for 2 minutes. Petri dishes containing Sutter IV solid medium supplemented with 0.1% Triton X-100 were seeded with the mutated spores and incubated at 25° C. for 4 days to obtain isolated colonies.

[0010] The strategies employed for selecting B. trispora (−) strains that are overproducers of β-carotene were as follows: (i) use of the cell selection technique based on fluorescence (FACS, fluorescent activated cell sorting), (ii) the lower yield of γ-carotene and other carotenoids and (iii) the color intensity of the colony. For selecting β-carotene-producing mutants using FACS, the mutated spores were grown on PDA medium, were washed with 0.1% Triton X-100 and were analyzed in a flow cytometer combined with a cell sorter and separator (“FACSort”, Fluorescent Activated Cell Sorting). Using this technique, it is possible to select the subpopulation of mutants with the highest levels of autofluorescence. Although β-carotene is not actually a fluorescent molecule, when it is excited with an argon laser at 488 nm it emits fluorescent radiation that is detected at a wavelength above 600 nm. In this way, the autofluorescence detected is proportional to the content of β-carotene in the spore.

[0011] The selected spores were seeded on PDA medium (Difco) and were incubated at 25° C., observing that the mutants that are overproducers of β-carotene became a deep orange in color. Selection of β-carotene-producing mutants as a function of their lower yield of γ-carotene and other carotenoids was effected in the following way: the subpopulation of mutants with higher level of autofluorescence isolated by means of FACSort was fermented in liquid medium with the aim of determining the yields of β-carotene in mixed culture. Once fermentation had ended, β-carotene and other carotenoids were quantified by HPLC. In this way, mutants were selected that exhibited (i) a higher yield of β-carotene and (ii) a lower yield of γ-carotene and other carotenoids. Applying both methods with the VKPM F-744 (−) strain, we selected the strains CMA1 (−), CMA2 (−), CMA3 (−) and CMA4 (−) (Scheme

[0012] Scheme 2. Phylogeny of the strains of B. trispora (−) obtained from B. trispora VKPM F-208 (−) using methods of mutation and selection. UV ultraviolet, SN natural selection, NTG N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, EMS ethylmethane sulphonate, FACS fluorescent activated cell sorting.

[0013] The following system of symbols was used for designating the strains selected: CM=carotene minus (−), CP=carotene plus (+). The relation between parent generations follows alphabetical order: A is the parent of B, B is the parent of C, etc. The number given after the letters corresponds to the number of the mutant. For example, the designation CMA1 (−) signifies that it is a carotene-producing strain (C), minus (M), parent of CMB and mutant number 1. In the same way, CMA1 (−), CMA2 (−), CMA3 (−) and CMA4 (−) correspond to mutants 1, 2, 3 and 4 of one and the same generation.

[0014] Selection of β-carotene-producing mutants as a function of the color intensity of the colony was carried out in the following way: the mutated spores of the CMA1 (−) strain were seeded on dishes of YEPDA solid medium and, once grown, those colonies that had a deeper yellowish-orange color than the CMA1 (−) parent strain were selected. In this way, 2 colonies with a deep yellowish-orange color were isolated, designated CMB1 (−) and CMB2 (−).

[0015] Selection of β-carotene-overproducing mutants of B. trispora (+) was effected by growing mutated spores on Petri dishes containing Sutter IV solid medium. Next, a portion from each of the colonies was transferred to a dish of PDA on which B. trispora (−) had been seeded previously. The yield of β-carotene on solid medium was estimated as a function of the color intensity in the zone of intersection of the colony of the (+) strain with that of the (−) strain. In this way, the strain B. trispora CPA1 (+) was selected (Scheme 3), which gave rise to a higher yield of β-carotene in mixed solid cultures with a series of (−) strains. The yield of the B. trispora CPA1 (+) strain was then analyzed in mixed culture on liquid medium.

[0016] Scheme 3. Phylogeny of the strains of B. trispora (+) obtained from B. trispora VKPM F-117 (+) using methods of mutation and selection. UV ultraviolet, SN natural selection, NTG N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, EMS ethylmethane-sulphonate.

[0017] The (+) and (−) strains of B. trispora selected on solid medium were fermented in a flask with the aim of determining the yield of β-carotene in liquid medium and mixed culture. For this, separate flasks of inoculum of the (+) and (−) strains were grown and then a mixed fermentation of the two strains was carried out in the flask. Once fermentation had ended (around 6 days), the mycelium of B. trispora was lysed by vortex agitation, the β-carotene was extracted with organic solvents (e.g. acetone) and its concentration and purity were determined by HPLC. The yields obtained varied between 6.0 and 7.0 g/l.

[0018] The selected strains were cultivated in pilot-plant fermenters for the purpose of determining the yield of β-carotene. For this, they were grown separately in flasks, transferred separately to intermediate growing tanks and finally they were fermented together. The fermentation was incubated for 100-140 hours. The mean yields of β-carotene obtained in a series of different fermentations were 7.2 g/l for the CPA1 (+)/CMA3 (−) strains and 6.8 g/l for the CPA1 (+)/CMB2 (−) strains. When, in the fermentation of the CPA1 (+)/CMA3 (−) strains, the age of the inocula was reduced from 48 to 46 hours, it was found that its yield had increased to 7.7 g/l. Similarly, when in the fermentation of the CPA1 (+)/CMB2 (−) strains the age of the inocula was reduced from 48 to 46 hours, it was found that its yield had increased to 7.1 g/l. Next, we succeeded in increasing the yield of β-carotene from the CPA1 (+)/CMA3 (−) strains by establishing an optimum program of addition of β-ionone. In this way, yields were attained in the range of 8.7 g/l. Finally, a fermentation system with oxygen injection was developed, and this made it possible (i) to increase the yield of β-carotene up to at least 9 g/l in fermentations of the CPA1 (+)/CMA3 (−) strains and (ii) to reduce the accumulation of γ-carotene and other carotenoids.

[0019] Deposit Of Microorganisms In Accordance With The Treaty Of Budapest

[0020] The strains of Blakeslea trispora have been deposited, in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty of Budapest, in the Russian National Collection of Industrial Microorganisms (VKPM), GNII Genetika, Dorozhny Proezd 1, Moscow 113545 (Russia), with the following numbers and dates: VKPM F-117 on Dec. 21, 1979, VKPM F-208 on Dec. 20, 1979, VKPM F-551 on Nov. 19, 1992, VKPM F-674 on Nov. 19, 1992, VKPM F-726 on Jan. 21, 1997, VKPM F-727 on Jan. 21, 1997, VKPM F-736 on Oct. 7, 1997, VKPM F-741 on Jan. 28, 1998, VKPM F-744 on Jan. 28, 1998 and VKPM F-816 on Dec. 13, 2000.

[0021] The following examples describe the present invention in detail and without limitation.

EXAMPLE 1

[0022] Strategies for Mutation of the (+) and (−) Strains of B. trispora

[0023] Firstly a mutagenic method was developed for the (+) and (−) strains of B. trispora, for which the following were analyzed: (i) various types of mutagenic agents, (ii) concentration of the mutagen, (iii) concentration of spores, (iv) incubation pH, and (v) treatment time. In this way, ethylmethane sulphonate (EMS) and N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (NTG) were selected as mutagenic agents.

[0024] The suspensions of spores to be mutated were obtained from slants with YpSs medium, which has the following composition: yeast extract 4 g/l, soluble starch 15 g/l, K₂HPO₄ 1 g/l, MgSO₄.7H₂O 0.5 g/l and agar 15 g/l, at a final pH of 5.8. The spores were resuspended by adding 10 ml of a 0.1% solution of Triton X-100 to each slant. The mycelium residues were removed by filtration through a nylon filter with pore size of 20 μm. The concentration of spores in the suspension was about 10⁶ spores/ml.

[0025] The method of mutation with EMS consisted of incubating 10⁶ spores/ml in a solution of EMS at 3% in 0.1 M sodium phosphate buffer pH 7.0 at room temperature for 60 minutes, achieving mortality rates of around 99%. The mutated spores were washed three times with 0.1% Triton X-100, centrifuging at 15° C. and 3000 rpm for 2 minutes.

[0026] The method of mutation with NTG consisted of incubating 10⁶ spores/ml in a solution that contained 250 μg/ml of NTG and 0.1 M sodium citrate buffer pH 5.0 at room temperature for 30 minutes, achieving mortality rates of around 95%. The mutated spores were washed three times with 0.1% Triton X-100, centrifuging at 15° C. and 3000 rpm for 2 minutes.

[0027] The mutated spores were used for seeding Petri dishes that contained Sutter IV solid medium supplemented with 0.1% Triton X-100. The composition per liter of the Sutter IV medium is as follows: 40 g glucose, 4 g L-asparagine, 10 g KH₂PO₄, 40 ml of solution of trace elements 50x, and 30 g of agar. The solution of trace elements 50x is made up of: 25 g/l of MgSO₄.7H₂O, 1.82 g/l of CaCl₂.2H₂O, 0.05 g/l of thiamine, 0.1 g/l of citric acid, 0.075 g/l of Fe(NO₃)₃.9H₂O, 0.05 g/l of ZnSO₄.7H₂O, 0.17 g/l of MnSO₄.H₂O, 0.025 g/l of CuSO₄.5H₂O and 0.025 g/l of NaMoO₄.2H₂O. The seeded dishes were incubated at 25° C. for 4 days to obtain isolated colonies.

EXAMPLE 2

[0028] Strategies for Selecting Mutants of B. trispora (−) That are Overproducers of β-carotene

[0029] This example describes strategies for selecting β-carotene-overproducing strains of B. trispora (−) based on (i) use of the cell selection technique based on fluorescence (FACS, fluorescent activated cell sorting), (ii) lower yield of γ-carotene and other carotenoids and (iii) the color intensity of the colony. The phylogeny of the B. trispora (−) strains used in the present invention is shown in Scheme 2.

[0030] Selection of β-carotene-producing mutants by means of FACS was carried out starting from spores mutated with EMS as described in example 1. The mutated spores were seeded on PDA solid medium and were incubated at 25° C. for 7 days. At the end of this time, the spores were collected by centrifugation and were washed twice with a 0.1% solution of Triton X-100. Each dish was suspended in a final volume of 1 ml. The mutant spores of B. trispora were analyzed by flow cytometry in a FACSort instrument (Becton Dickinson). Excitation was effected with an argon laser at 488 nm, evaluating the following parameters: forward scattering (FSC), side scattering (SSC) and fluorescence emission starting from 600 nm (by using the FL3 detector). Mutants that are overproducers of β-carotene were selected by purification of the subpopulation of spores that possessed the highest levels of autofluorescence in the FL3 detector. The spores isolated in this way were seeded on PDA medium with the aim of obtaining isolated colonies. The yield of each of the colonies was analyzed by flask fermentation in mixed culture with the B. trispora CPA1 (+) strain as described in example 4. The results obtained with 10 mutant colonies were as follows: 5 colonies (50%) displayed a significant increase in β-carotene yield relative to the B. trispora VKPM F-744 (−) parent strain, 30% of the colonies displayed yields similar to the parent strain and the remaining 20% produced smaller quantities than the parent strain (FIG. 1). Of the 5 mutants that had an increased yield of β-carotene (CMA1 (−), CMA2 (−), CMA3 (−), CMA4 (−) and F9 (−)), only one of them (F9 (−)) had higher levels of γ-carotene and other carotenoids, and was therefore discarded. The strain with the highest purity and yield of β-carotene was CMA1 (−), and it was therefore selected as the parent strain of the next cycle of mutation (Scheme 2).

[0031] Selection of mutants that are overproducers of β-carotene as a function of the color intensity of the colony was carried out as follows: the CMA1 (−) strain was submitted to mutagenesis as described in example 1. The mutated spores were seeded on dishes of YEPDA solid medium (bacto-peptone 20 g/l, yeast extract 10 g/l, glucose 20 g/l and agar 20 g/l, at a final pH of 6.0), incubated at 25° C. for 24 hours and then at 20° C. for 48-72 hours. Finally, those colonies were selected that possessed a deeper yellowish-orange color than the CMA1 (−) parent strain. In this way 2 colonies with deep orange color were isolated, designated CMB1 (−) and CMB2 (−), which might be overproducers of β-carotene. The yield level of the B. trispora strains CMA1 (−), CMA2 (−), CMA3 (−), CMA4 (−), CMB1 (−) and CMB2 (−) was then analyzed in mixed culture with the CPA1 (+) strain on liquid medium as described in examples 4, 5, 6 and 7. Scheme 2 shows the phylogeny of the strains of B. trispora (−) used in the present invention.

EXAMPLE 3

[0032] Strategies for Selecting Mutants of B. trispora (+) That are Overproducers of β-carotene

[0033] Selection of β-carotene-overproducing mutants of B. trispora (+) was effected using mutated spores as described in example 1. These spores were seeded on Petri dishes that contained Sutter IV solid medium and were incubated at 25° C. for 7 days to obtain isolated colonies. Next, a portion from each of the colonies was transferred to a dish of PDA medium on which B. trispora (−) had been seeded previously. The distance between the seeding points of the (+) and (−) strains must be approximately 2 cm. The yield of β-carotene in solid medium is estimated from the intensity of coloration in the zone of intersection of the colony of the (+) strain with that of the (−) strain. In this way the B. trispora strain CPA1 (+) was selected, and this gave rise to a higher yield of β-carotene in mixed solid cultures with a series of (−) strains. The yield of the B. trispora strain CPA1 (+) was then analyzed in mixed culture in a liquid medium as described in examples 4, 5, 6 and 7. Scheme 3 shows the phylogeny of the B. trispora (+) strains used in the present invention.

EXAMPLE 4

[0034] Method of Production of β-carotene in a Flask by Mixed Culture of the (+) and (−) Strains of B. trispora

[0035] The (+) and (−) strains of B. trispora selected as described in examples 1, 2 and 3 were fermented in a flask with the aim of determining the level of production of β-carotene in a liquid medium and mixed culture. For this, an inoculum medium was prepared with the following composition per liter: 23 g of soya flour, 47 g of maize flour, 0.5 g of KH₂PO₄ and 0.002 g of thiamine hydrochloride. The pH was adjusted to 6.3. The (+) strain was seeded in 500-ml flasks containing 67 ml of medium at the rate of 10³ spores per ml. The (−) strain was seeded in 500-ml flasks containing 100 ml of medium at a rate of 104 spores per ml. Both types of inoculum were incubated at 25° C. and 250 rpm for 44 hours.

[0036] The fermentation medium has the following composition per liter: 44 g of soya flour, 19 g of maize flour, 10 g of orange flour, 0.5 g of KH₂PO₄, 0.28 g of isoniazid, 0.002 g of thiamine hydrochloride, 10 g of lecithin and 100 g of vegetable oil. The pH was adjusted to 6.3. The medium was distributed in 250-ml Erlenmeyer flasks, at the rate of 20 ml per flask. The flasks containing the fermentation medium were inoculated with 10% of a mixture of the (+) and (−) strains in the ratio 1/10. The flasks were incubated at 25° C. and 250 rpm and, at 48 hours, β-ionone was added at a rate of 1 ml per liter of culture medium. At the end of fermentation (6 days), a mixture of fermentation medium and methylene chloride/methanol (1/1) was prepared. Mixing with the solvent caused lysis of the mycelium of B. trispora, thus releasing the intracellular β-carotene. The β-carotene was extracted in the organic phase and was then diluted in acetone. The concentration and purity of the β-carotene were determined using reversed-phase HPLC.

[0037] The yields obtained in mixed fermentations of the CPA1 (+) strains with the CMA1 (−), CMA2 (−), CMA3 (−), CMA4 (−), CMB1 (−) and CMB2 (−) strains varied between 6.0 and 7.0 g/l (FIG. 1).

EXAMPLE 5

[0038] Method of Production of β-carotene by Mixed Cultivation of the (+) and (−) Strains of B. trispora in a Fermenter

[0039] The B. trispora strains CMA1 (−), CMA2 (−), CMA3 (−), CMB1 (−) and CMB2 (−), selected as described in examples 2, 3 and 4, were cultivated in pilot-stage fermenters together with the CPA1 (+) strain for the purpose of determining the yield of β-carotene. For this, an inoculum medium was prepared with the following composition per liter: 23 g of soya flour, 47 g of maize flour, 0.5 g of KH₂PO₄, 0.002 g of thiamine hydrochloride. The pH was adjusted to 6.3. The (+) and (−) strains were seeded separately in 2000-ml flasks containing 500 ml of medium and were incubated at 25° C. and 250 rpm for 44-48 hours.

[0040] Each of the strains was transferred at 0.1% to a vegetative growing tank containing a culture medium with the following composition per liter: 29 g of Pharmamedia, 47 g of maize flour, 0.5 g of KH₂PO₄, 0.002 g of thiamine hydrochloride and 1 g of antifoaming agent, and its pH was adjusted to 6.0. The (+) strain was incubated at 25-27° C. with aeration of 0.66 v/v/m (volume/volume/minute) and the (−) strain at 27-29° C. with aeration of 1.5 v/v/m. These differences in the incubation conditions give rise to differences in growth of the two strains, so that at the time of mixing in the fermenter the physiological state is suitable for achieving a maximum yield.

[0041] After incubating for 46 h, the (+) and (−) strains were mixed in the ratio 1/10, and 10% of the mixture was used for seeding the fermentation medium, which had the following composition per liter: 50 g of soya flour, 25 g of maize flour, 15 g of orange flour, 0.5 g of KH₂PO₄, 0.28 g of isoniazid, 0.002 g of thiamine hydrochloride, 10 g of soya lecithin, 80 g of vegetable oil and 0.175 g of antifoaming agent, with initial pH adjusted to 5.9. The fermentation was incubated for 120-140 hours at a temperature of 25-28° C. with stirring varying between 150 and 250 rpm and aeration of 1-1.5 v/v/m. The pH was controlled with ammonia or phosphoric acid. Between the 40th and 50th hours of fermentation, 10 g of a 10% solution of β-ionone in vegetable oil was added per liter of fermentation medium. Similarly, between the 70th and 80th hours of fermentation, 10 g of a 10% solution of ethoxyquin in vegetable oil was added per liter of fermentation medium.

[0042] The concentration and purity of the β-carotene at the end of fermentation were evaluated as described in example 4. The results obtained are shown in FIG. 2. The average yield of β-carotene obtained in a series of different fermentations of the CPA1 (+) and CMA3 (−) strains was 7.2 g/l in the fermenter that proceeded from inocula incubated for 48 hours and 7.7 g/l when the inocula had been incubated for 46 hours. The yield of the CPA1 (+) and CMB2 (−) strains was 6.8 g/l in the fermenter that proceeded from inocula incubated for 48 hours and 7.1 g/l when the inocula had been incubated for 46 hours. This means that a decrease of 2 hours in the incubation time of the inoculum increased the yield of β-carotene by around 5-7%. This example clearly demonstrates how the yield of β-carotene is influenced by (i) the incubation time and (ii) the growing conditions established for each of the two strains.

EXAMPLE 6

[0043] Method of Production of β-carotene by Mixed Cultivation of the CPA1 (+) and CMA3 (−) Strains of B. trispora in a Fermenter Using a Specific Program of Addition of β-ionone

[0044] The CPA1 (+) and CMA3 (−) strains, selected as described in examples 2, 3 and 4, were cultivated in a pilot-stage fermenter with the aim of determining the yield of β-carotene. The fermentation conditions (inocula, vegetative growing tanks and fermenter) were as described in example 5, but with a different program of addition of β-ionone.

[0045] The program of addition of β-ionone established in example 5 consisted of supplying, between the 40th and 50th hours of fermentation, 10 g of a 10% solution of β-ionone in vegetable oil per liter of fermentation medium. In this case a new series of programs of addition was analyzed, obtaining the following improved results: 10 g of a 10% solution of β-ionone in vegetable oil per liter of fermentation medium between the 40th and 50th hours of fermentation, a further 10 g per liter between the 60 and 70th hours of fermentation and another 5 g per liter between the 100th and 105th hours of fermentation.

[0046] The concentration and purity of the β-carotene at the end of fermentation were evaluated as described in example 4. The average yield of β-carotene obtained in a series of different fermentations of the CPA1 (+) and CMA3 (−) strains was 7.2 g/l using the program of addition of β-ionone described in example 5 and 8.7 g/l with the improved program described in the present example. These results confirm that there is a close relation between the program of addition of β-ionone and the yield of β-carotene.

EXAMPLE 7

[0047] Method of Production of β-carotene by Mixed Cultivation of the (+) and (−) Strains of B. trispora in a Fermenter Using Oxygen Injection

[0048] The strains of B. trispora CPA1 (+) and VKPM F-744 (−), selected as described in examples 2 and 3, were cultivated in a pilot-stage fermenter with the aim of determining the yield of β-carotene. The fermentation conditions (inocula, intermediate growing tanks and fermenter) were as described in example 5, but increasing the quantity of oxygen dissolved in the fermentation medium by injection of oxygen.

[0049] Standard fermentation (without extra addition of oxygen) was carried out with a pattern of stirring varying between 150 and 250 rpm and aeration of 1-1.5 v/v/m. In the case of fermentation with oxygen injection, the same conditions were employed except that the air entering the fermenter had been enriched with oxygen by connecting to bottles of pure oxygen. In this way the oxygen content of the air was increased from 21% to 24.5%. Oxygen supplementation was carried out between the 40th and 70th hours of fermentation. The average concentration of oxygen dissolved in the fermentation medium in the conditions with oxygen supplementation reached values of 49%, whereas this value was 34% without addition of oxygen.

[0050] The concentration and purity of the β-carotene at the end of fermentation were evaluated as described in example 4. The average yield of β-carotene obtained in a series of different fermentations of the CPA1 (+) and VKPM F-744 (−) strains was 6.7 g/l without addition of oxygen and 7.1 g/l when oxygen was injected. This demonstrates that it is possible to increase the yield of β-carotene by supplying extra oxygen at those moments during fermentation when the concentration of oxygen dissolved in the fermentation medium is at its minimum. Applying this technology to the fermentation conditions established in example 6 for the CPA1 (+) and CMA3 (−) strains, yields greater than 9 g/l were obtained (FIG. 3).

[0051] In addition, oxygen enrichment of the air entering the fermenter gave rise to a decrease in the yield of other unwanted carotenoids such as γ-carotene and β-zeacarotene. The average yield of γ-carotene (as a percentage relative to β-carotene) in the series of experiments previously described was 1.8% without oxygen injection and 1.2% with injection of oxygen. Moreover, the values for β-zeacarotene were 1.0% without oxygen injection and only 0.5% when oxygen was injected. It is concluded on the basis of these results that there is a close relation between oxygenation of the culture and (i) the increase in β-carotene yield and (ii) the decrease in levels of γ-carotene and β-zeacarotene.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DIAGRAMS

[0052]FIG. 1. Production of β-carotene by mixed flask fermentation of the CPA1 (+) strain of B. trispora with a series of (−) strains of B. trispora. Ordinate: g/l; Abscissa: F₁, F₂, etc., mutants selected with the FACsort system, from which CMA1, CMA2, CMA3 and CMA4 were chosen after flask fermentation (example 2). L25 (−) corresponds to VKPM F-744 (−).

[0053]FIG. 2. Production of β-carotene by mixed fermentation of the CPA1 (+) strain of B. trispora with a series of (−) strains of B. trispora in a fermenter. Ordinate: % relative to the yield of L25 (−). L25 (−) corresponds to VKPM F-744 (−).

[0054]FIG. 3. Production of β-carotene by mixed fermentation of the strains CPA1 (+) /L25 (−) and CPA1 (+) /CMA3 (−) in a fermenter without direct injection of oxygen (standard) or using direct injection of oxygen. Ordinate: g/l. L25 (−) corresponds to VKPM F-744 (−). 

1. A method of production of β-carotene by fermentation with mixed cultures of (+) and (−) strains of B. trispora, characterized in that it consists of fermentations in which the age of the vegetative growth stages of the strains is controlled, both of the inoculum and of the primary cultures, β-ionone is added and, optionally, oxygen during the fermentation process.
 2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that strains of B. trispora (−), mutants or transformants derived therefrom, which produce β-carotene, preferably those described in Scheme 2, are used together with the (+) strains.
 3. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that strains of B. trispora (+), mutants or transformants derived therefrom, which produce β-carotene, preferably those described in Scheme 3, are used together with the (−) strains.
 4. A method according to any one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that cultures whose incubation time prior to seeding is between 42 and 50 hours, preferably 46 hours, are used as the inoculum.
 5. A method according to any one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that cultures whose incubation time prior to seeding is between 35 and 55 hours, preferably between 44 and 48 hours, are employed as primary vegetatives.
 6. A method according to any one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that β-ionone is added in accordance with an automatic program from the 40th hour to the 105th hour of fermentation, during at least 3 cycles preferably between the 40th and 50th hours, 60th and 70th hours and 100th and 105th hours.
 7. A method according to claim 6, characterized in that the addition is of at least 10 g of a 10% solution of β-ionone in vegetable oil per liter of fermentation medium in each of the two first cycles considered and at least 5 g of the said solution per liter of fermentation medium in the third.
 8. A method according to any one of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that oxygen is added from the start until the end of fermentation, preferably between the 40th and 70th hours.
 9. A method according to claim 8, where the average values of oxygen dissolved in the fermentation medium are maintained between 35% and 60% relative to the initial oxygen, preferably 50%.
 10. A method according to any one of the claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: (a) inocula of the (+) strain of B. trispora are seeded with a range of 800-1000 spores/ml. (b) inocula of the (−) strain of B. trispora are seeded with a range of 10 000-60 000 spores/ml. (c) the inocula of the (+) and (−) strains of B. trispora are cultivated for about 46 hours at 25° C. (d) primary culture phases of the (+) strain of B. trispora are seeded with about 0.1% (v/v) of the inoculum phase. (e) primary culture phases of the (−) strain of B. trispora are seeded with about 0.1% (v/v) of the inoculum phase. (f) the primary phases of the (+) strain of B. trispora are cultivated for about 44-48 hours at 26° C. (g) the primary phases of the (−) strain of B. trispora are cultivated for about 44-48 hours at 28° C. (h) the primary phases of the (+) and (−) strains of B. trispora are mixed in an approximate ratio of 1 (+)/10 (−) (v/v). (i) each fermenter is seeded with 10% (v/v) of the mixture of the (+) and (−) strains of B. trispora described in paragraph h. (j) the mixed culture is incubated for 5-6 days at 26° C.
 11. A method according to any one of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a minimum of 6-8.7 g/l of β-carotene is produced in 5-6 days.
 12. A method according to claim 10, characterized in that at least 100 mg of β-carotene is produced per gram of dry weight of mycelium in 5-6 days.
 13. A method according to claim 10, characterized in that a minimum of 9 g/l of β-carotene is produced in 5-6 days, with addition of oxygen.
 14. A method according to claims 10 and 13, characterized in that levels of γ-carotene are produced that are below 1.2% of the β-carotene produced.
 15. A method according to claims 10 and 13, characterized in that levels of β-zeacarotene are produced that are below 0.5% of the β-carotene produced. 